Radiator return trap



Dec. 1928.

. 1,694,641 A. P. cRosBY` RADIATOR RETURN TRAAP f Filed May 2, 1927` 4o JR 40 59 9 @5% @MMM/gaf atto: ne 1.4 L,

Patented Dec. 1 1, 1928.

UNETED STATES instan PATENT QFFECE.

ARTHUR 1P. CROSBY, 0F MNNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSEGNO-112 OF UNE-HALF TO WILLIAM T. PRCE, OF MINNEAPOLS, INHNNESOTA.

kRADIATOR RETURN TRAP. l

Application filed May 2,

lli/ly invention relates to radiator return traps and particularly to the types of traps employing a fluid actuated thermoresponsive expansible element, and has for an object thereof to provide a resilient support Yl'or carrying the thermoresponsive element adapted to yield upon excessive expansion thereof due to abnormal temperatures within the trap so as to prevent injury tothe valve mechanism and to said thermoresponsive element.

Another object oi:l the invention resides in providing a housing formed with an inlet and an outlet and a valve for closing said outlet, said housing having a removable cap, and in attaching said resilientsupport directly to said cap, said thermoresponsive element being carried by said resilient support and having rigidly secured to it said valve, said yvalve being adapted to close said outlet upon Aexpansion of said thermoresponsive element and said resilient member being adapted to yield upon excessive expansion of said thermoresponsive element.

Another object of the invention resides in forming said resilient member of one or more expansible resilient cells having compartments formed by means of spaced diaphragme connected along their peripheral edges, said cells being filled with air and serving to yield, under axial pressure against said diaphragme, to prevent injury to said thermoresponsive element upon excessive eX- pansion thereof.

1With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear in the following description, the invention resides in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

1n the drawings:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view of a trap illustrating` an embodiment of my invention with the valve thereoi1 opened.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the valve mechanism closed.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the valve member closed and the resilient member in yielded position, said resilient member being shown in section.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

1n the various steam heating systems employing traps utilizing thermoresponsive elements operating against fixed abutments for the purpose of closing the valve mecha- 1927. Serial No. 188,192.

nism within the traps, injury frequently occurs due to excessive expansion of the valve member. Where springs or similar structures are used to form a yielding abutment for the valves, the valves frequently fail to seat in the proper position,`and breakage and the loss of resiliency ot the springs canse considerable diihculty and uncertainty in operation. My invention overcomes these disadvantages and prevents injury to the thermoresponsive elements by providing a resilient support formed oi' the same construction as the thermoresponsive element and being iilled with air instead of the usual eXpansible iiuid, said air filled cells serving as resilient members for directly supporting the thermoresponsive element and serving to yield upon excessive expansion thereof.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings comprises a housing A oit cylindrical formation open at the top and threaded at 8 to receive a cap or closure 9 to form achamber 10 within the same. At one side of the housing il is formed a neck 11 providing an inlet into chamber 10 of said housing, which neck is externally threaded at 12 to receive a clamp nut 14 by means oft which the entire trap may be rigidly mounted upon the usual nipple 15 of the ordinary radiator on which the trap is to be used. Depending from the lower wall 16 of the housing A is a necl 17 having an outlet 18 communicating with the chamber 10 of housingA. rlhis neck is constricted at its juncture with the housing A as indicated at 19, being formed with a valve seat 2O adapted to receive a valve closure to be presently described for the purpose oi' closing the opening from chamber 10 to the outlet 18. The interior or the neclt 17 is threaded at 22 to receive a pipe, not shown, by means of which the wat-er entering the trap may be conducted away.

l/Vithin the interior of housing A is supported a thermoresponsive fluid actuated expansible element 23. This device consists of three cells 24, 25 and 2G connected together by means oi two nipples 27 and 28. Each of the cells 24, 25 and 26 consists of two diaphragme 29 and 30 having overlapping peripheral flanges 31 and 82 arranged to be soldered together to form a chamber 33 within the element and adapted to be enlarged or reduced in volume by the movement olI the central portions of the diaphragme 2S) and 30 toward or from one another. The nipples 27 and 28, soldered to the respective diaphragms 29 and 30, bring the cells Eel, and 26 into communication with each other.

The thermoresponsive element 23 is supported by means of a resilient member consisting ot two cells and 36 constructed like the cells 2l, 25 and 26. rllhese cells consist ot diaphragms Q9 and SO, the same as Cells 2l, 25 and 2G and are connected by means or' a nipple 37 bringing the two chambers into interoommunication. The thermoresponsive clement is attached to the resilient member 34 by means of a ud 38, which maybe riveted to the respective diaphragms and 8O ot the respective cells 2l and 36, the stud connecting the thermoresponsive element to the resilient member. The assemblage ot cells is carried by a plug` 39 of relatively large diameter which is riveted to the diaphragm 29 ot cell 35 and adapted to be screwed into the head of cap 9, Which is threaded at e to receive the same. 1Protruding from the center of the lower diaphragm ot' element Q6 is a valve head il which is normally disposed in axial alignment with the valve seat 20, the said valve head being adapted to seat against the seat 20, upon expension or' the thermoresponsive element 2e?, and close the passageway between the chamber and the outlet 18.

lWhile the assemblage ot cells is normally held by the plug 39 disposed substantially axially of the easing A and valve seat 20, it remains that the cell assembly might lbe sprung` out of position in handling or in shipment or that it might become buckled under expansion or contraction due to non-uniformity in the action ot the cells. Such springing or buckling ot the cell assembly is prevented by the use of a number ot ribs 42g 4% 44e and l5 'formed internally ot the housing A and extending` longitudinally thereof. lilith the cell assembly in true axial relation with .respect to the housing` A and valve seat 20, the inner edges oit said ribs slightly clear the peripheries of cells 2e', 25 and 26, said ribs however, serving to prevent any substantial lateral displacement of the cell assembly Without impcding` the action of said assembly.

Cell 26 ot the thermoresponsive element. is supplied with some suitable fluid adapted to become volatilized upon increase ot the temperature within the chamber lOy the vapor from said fluid serving undeA increasing temperatures., to cspaud and elongate the thermoresponsive element 23 and thereby close the valve ll. The relative arrangement of the parts when the valve ll is closeo shown in Fig. 2.

The chambers 38 Within the cells 35 and 36 are preferably filled with air or some other suitable adapted to expand but slightly over considerable changes in temperature. This lgas together with the resiliency of the material forming the cells and 36 converts these two cells into a resilient member adapted to be compressed upon the exertion ot pressure against the same. ln the normal operation ot the "alve, these cells are practically immovable serving as an abutment and support for the thermoresponsive element 2%, which, .Ween expanded, closes the valve lll. Upon excessif-.i` expansion oill the thermoresi'ionsive element Q3 due to abnormal temperatures Withi the chamber l0, the diaphragms and 30 ot the cell and 3G are caused to approach one another as indicated in Fig. 3, whereby tl e abutment, against Which the thermoresponsive e ement 23 reacts in the closing ot the valve lll, becomes yielf, able, thereby preventing injury to the said element when excessive expansion thereof occurs. ln this manner the thermoresponsive element is protected trom breakage and the cfnsequential disadvantages arising from failure ot the trap to function properly is prevented.

llllith the expansible element 23 fully contracted, valve l1 occupies position removed from seat 2O a dis ,ance greater than the maximum expansible distance of one cell ol said element. ltytheretorepvill become a parent that the tivo cells of member 34s can readily accommodate any elongation of the three cell element 28, a'l'ter the valve ll has become seated since less than the maximum expansion of tivo oil said three cells remains at the beginning oit con'ipression ot the tivo cells ot said resilient member The niaphragms comprising the cells of the resilient member and enpansible element 23 are set7 atter being roughly tormech so that the paired diaphragms in member 34- are normally bowed away from each other and the paired diaphragms in element 23 are normally bowed toward each other. This relative arrangement of diaphragms provides for ample elongation ot the element 23 and ample conipression of member 34: with a minimum numberot cells in ch i stance, whereby the dcvice as a Whole may be kept within conventional din'iensional limits.

rlhe advant ees o'l mv invention are manitest. An extremely effective device is produced` which completely prevents the breaking of or injury to the thermoresponsive element in the presence of e: essive temperature Within the trap chamberu il unitary structure is provided for supporting the valve and the thermoresponsive element, sad structure being removable a unit 'from the housingv upon the unscrewine' of the cap thereof. The resilient member is constructed ot' the same material and in the same 'form as the termoresi'ionsive element so that the same C ie,4 and tool maybe used for the con struction ot both the resilient member and the expansible elemena Loose spiral sprinos or similar expedients tor the holding oi a thermo-responsive element in proper position are dispeired lili lLlU

With in my invention, thereby greatly simplifying the construction and improving the operation thereot'.

Changes in the specific. form of my invention, as herein disclosed, may be made within the scope ot' what is claimed Without departing from the spirit ot my invention.

Having described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination With a trap casing having a passage therethrough and a removable'cap opposite said passage, ot an assembly of axially expansible and contractible cells co-axially connected, a valve carried at one end ot the assembly adapted to close said passage, and means at the other end olf said assembly for securing the same to said cap, certain of said cells containing a medium adapted to cause the same to expand under increasing.temperatures and move said valve to close said passage through the consequent elongation of said assembly, other of said cells being adapted yieldingly to contract under the expanding torce ot said first cells atter the valve becomes seated.

Q. The combination With a trap casing having a passage therethrough and a removable cap opposite said passage. olf an assembly of axially expansible and cont-ractible cells co-axially connected, a valve carried at one end of the assembly adapted to close said passage, and means at the other end ot' said assembly for detachably securing the same to said cap, certain ot said cells containing amedium adapted to cause the same to expand under increasing temperatures and .move said valve to close said passage through the consequent elongation of said assembly, other ot said cells being adapted yieldingly to contract under-'the expanding force of said first cells after the valve becomes seated.

rl`he combination With a return trap casing and a valve movable against and away from a seat in said casing, of an actuator backed against the casing and adapted to move said valve against said seat, said actuator comprising a series ot axially expansible and contractible cells ero-axially connected, a group of cells at one end olY the series being in intercommunication and a group ol said cells at the other end of the series being in intercommunication, the cells ot one group containing a medium adapted to cause them to expand under increasing temperatures and thereby cause the closing ot the valve on said seat, the cells of the other group containing a medium permitting the same to contract yieldingly allter the valve becomes seated.

il. The combination With a return trap casing formed with an opening therein sur rounded by a valve seat, of a unit designed to be positioned in said casing and comprising an assembly of axially expansible and pending torce or said cells alter the valve becomes seated.

5. rl`he combination with a return trap casn ing and a valve movable against and away from a seat in said casing, ot an actuator for said valve comprising an assembly oi" axially expansible and contractible cells coaXially connected in series and adapted to be interposed lengthwise between said casing and valve, certain ot said cells containing a medium adapted to cause the same to ezipand under increasing temperatures and thereby etlect the closure of the valve through said cell assembly, other of said cells being adapted yieldingly to contract under the expanding force ot said lirst cells after the valve becomes seated.

6. ln combination, a trap casing having a passage therein surrounded by seat and also having a removable cap opposite said passage, an assembly of axially enpansible and contractible cells coeaxially connected, a valve carried at one end ot the assembly adapted to co-act with said seat to close said passage, the other end of the assembly being backed against said cap, said casing be ing formed with a plurality ot internal ribs idending long-gitudinally ot said assembly, said ribs serving to keep said cells in substantial axial alignment With each other and With said passage, certain of said cells containing a medium adapted to cause the expansion under increasing temperatures Within the casing, other ot said cells being adapted yieldingly to contract under the expanding force of said lirst cells alter the valve has become seated.

7. ln a trap, a casing having passage therein surrounded by a seat, a valve adapted to be closed upon said seat, mea. s tor moving said valve against and awa-y from said seat, said means including an assembly ot cells, each comprising opposed diaphragms, said cells being axially expansible and contractible and co-axially connec ted in series, means for connecting said assembly at one end thereof to the casing, certain oil said cells containing a medium adapted to causethe expansion of their diaphragms under increasing temperatures Within the casing, the diaphragms in each ot' said cells being normally bowed toward one another, certain other ot the cells of said assembly having the respective diapl'iragms thereof normally bowed away from each other, said Cells being adapted to be yieldingly contracted under the force of said first Cells after the valve has become seated.

8. In a trap, a easing` having a passage therein surrounded by a valve seat, a valve adapted to be Closed upon said seat, means for aCtuating said valve, said means including a tliermoresponsive cell having opposed diaphragjnis normally bowed toward one anotherv` also an abutment cell against which said first cell re-aets, said latter cell having opposed diaphragms normally bowed away from each other.

9. In a trap, a easing` having a passage therein surrounded by a valve seat, a valve adapted to be moved from a given position apart from said seat to position against the saine7 means for moving said valve against said seat, said means comprising a train of expansible temperature responsive Cells, a second train of contraetible Cells aligned with said firsttrain and providing a yielding` abutment therefor, the combined eontractible eX- tent of said second cells plus the extent of movement Vof said valve from said Agiven posit-ion to position against said seat being greater than the combined eXpa-nsible extent of said first cells. I

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature to this specification.

ARTHUR P. CROSBY. 

